A Creative Life

A Creative Life

September Bouquet by Sharon Holland

Believe me, I'm fully aware of how lucky I am! My sister always said I'm charmed and I think she is right.

My husband is a wonderful, kind, and giving man who not only makes me laugh everyday but has worked hard to provide for the family which allowed me to be a stay-at-home mom when our kids where growing up. He's always accommodated me in my pursuit of arts and crafts and supported all my dreams along with putting up with crazy photoshoots, sourcing excursions, and taking over the house as my workspace. 

Yellow Rose study by Sharon Holland

My recent time spent reconnecting with painting has me first, wanting to thank everyone for the out pouring of wonderful comments and support and second wanting to encourage you to pursue your dreams and goals as well.

You have to know by now that I'm a natural-born enabler, right? Well, I like to think of it more like a cheerleader for the arts whether it's for sewing/quilting, photography, crafting, or fine arts. 

Fox by Sharon Holland

With kids back to school and summer drawing to a close, it's time to start thinking about following some of your dreams.

Even though I have a background in art from my college days long ago, I still wasn't up to date with modern technology. If I hadn't of taken the plunge and gone back to school at age 45 I may not being doing all the wonderfully amazing creative things I'm able to do today.

Luckily, there's now an easier way to learn at your own pace and right from home. It's called Skillshare. I'm a such a big fan of Skillshare that I'm now a Skillshare ambassador!

Monarch on Coneflower by Sharon Holland

Skillshare is an amazing platform that lets you watch unlimited videos at your own pace the on every subject imaginable. Maybe you're interested in starting watercolors or learning how to draw? There's hundreds of phenomenal teachers from all over the globe are on Skillshare and ready to teach you what you want to learn. 

Want to be a better photographer? Yup, they have all sorts of levels from beginning photography to advanced. The courses are not just art related either, you can learn about how to improve your Instagram feed, be a better business owner, gardener, start calligraphy, learn the newest technology (like Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign for example), and improve your lifestyle, health, and fitness. 

Summer Lace by Sharon Holland

Sometimes the hardest part is knowing where to start. When I wanted to start painting again I felt incredibly rusty but Skillshare helped me gain the confidence I needed to put pigment to paper again. 

So, if you're intrigued or still on the fence about what Skillshare could do for you, here's a sweet incentive for you to give it a try for 2 free months! Use coupon code: igamb1169.

Yes, no obligations other than signup for your free 2 months and start learning something new--today!

Here's just a few of my favorite teachers on Skillshare:

Leah Goren - Skillshare

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Bonnie Christine - Skillshare

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Katya Rozz - Skillshare

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Robert Joyner - Skillshare

There's no end to what you can accomplish and each Skillshare class is broken down into bite-size segments and class projects you can share with the class and get feedback from the teacher. You work at your own pace, access the classes at anytime, and rewatch as needed. 

So, what do you say? You have nothing to loose and everything to gain!!!!

Happy learning from your creative cheerleader,

Sharon

My Signature Sampler Week #11

My Signature Sampler Week #11

The weeks are moving along quite fast on this sew along and we're already to block 11 out of 16!

Today's block comes from the Quilter's Planner 2018 magazine (Block 7 in the magazine) and I'm calling it Flying Geese block for this sew along. 

If you're just joining in on the fun, take a look at my first post for this sew along and pick up the quilt layout and color book page to start planning your sampler! The My Signature Sampler is based off block instructions from the Sewcial Bee Sampler (SBS), Community Sampler (CS), AGF Quilt Block Collection (AGF), and the blocks from the Quilter's Planner 2018 magazine (QP). If you have different favorite blocks and would rather include them in your quilt, please feel free to make this sampler with your own signature-style. 

If you need extra help with your patchwork or would like to learn how to control the direction of your prints in half-square triangle units and other piecing techniques, visit my Tutorials page for lots of great tutorials all in one place. Also, when making any Sewcial Bee or Community Sampler blocks you can access the original blog posts for each block and find additional tips and tutorials for piecing. If needed, just use the search bar at the top of the this page on the right and simply type in the block name.

Don't forget our blocks will be set on-point so if you have a fussy cut center, cut it on-point for best results. Note: I don't recommend cutting any other pieces of the blocks (other than a center square on-point for fussy cutting) because it will create bias edges along the outside of the block and increase chances of distortion. Keep any bias edges in the center of the block.

I love this block from the Quilter's Planner magazine but admit that it's a tricky one to piece. This block is my third attempt at it! But, The Quilter's Planner has you covered on this with additional Hints and Tips for this, July 2018 Block of the Month. Plus, if you're wanting to try your hand at foundation paper-piecing (FPP), they also have the instructions and template for constructing this block by FPP.

I used traditional patchwork construction for my block. My first attempt, I made the classic mistake of not reading the directions and making assumptions about the construction. For this block you must follow the cutting and piecing instructions to the minute details (accept for one part I'll discuss in a bit). Cut and make the Flying Geese units as directed in the magazine as these are set on point into the block and don't comply to standard dimensions. DON'T trim down to a standard size like I did the first time around!

My suggestion for deviating from the instructions comes with the 3-7/8" squares that will be cut in half diagonally and used as the corners of the Flying Geese sections. 

I suggest that instead of cutting the squares 3-7/8" you cut them 4" square. That way, after you attach the three triangles to make a quarter section of the block you have a tiny bit of wiggle room for squaring it to 6-1/2" square. 

2019 Quilter's Planner

Orders are now being taken for next year's planner and you have a choice of two cover designs for the planner plus they come with the Quilter's Planner 2019 magazine loaded with projects from the calendar plus and new sampler quilt project. 

My blocks are made using Art Gallery Fabric Pure Elements for the solids together with prints from the Signature fabric collection that I designed for Art Gallery Fabrics. For stock lists of online shops that carry my Signature and other collections I've designed for AGF, visit my Fabrics page or the Where to Buy page on the Art Gallery Fabrics site.

I've been adding my setting triangles to my finished blocks as I make them and have been sticking to original layout in the first week handouts. I'm using a combination of my Perennial print from Printemps Fusions and Untamed Beauty Daybreak from Signature as the background setting of my quilt but because this block will be in the middle of the quilt it only uses the Untamed Beauty print in the setting triangles. 

The setting triangles are made by cutting a 9-1/2'' square on the diagonal to make two setting triangles. Be mindful of print direction, if applicable. See Community Sampler Week #13 for block setting instructions. 

If you're interested in adding a chevron border to your sampler quilt, take a look at the week #6 blog post and pick up the border supplement PDF. I'll review the border option closer to the end of this sew along but just in case you wanted to sew or plan ahead, you have the information now.

GIVEAWAY

Every Friday when I reveal a new block to My Signature Sampler, I'll also be posting the weekly giveaway. This sew along is being sponsored by the most amazing companies and have generously donated incredible prizes to share with you. 

OUR SPONSORS

Art Gallery Fabrics | Hobbs Batting | The Quilter's Planner | Quilters Candy Box | Bloc_Loc | Dritz |  Omnigrid | Fat Quarter Shop

THIS WEEK'S GIVEAWAY SPONSOR IS: ART GALLERY FABRICS

Art Gallery Fabrics was started in 2004 by Pat and Walter Bravo. Since then creativity, beauty, and design have been their passions, and to this day, they have not changed--bringing a chic and modern perspective to the quilting industry.

When it comes to designing a fabric collection, AGF always keeps originality and uniqueness on the top of their list. Find your favorite fabric designers who create enticing color palettes and artful, intricate prints that make AGF collections one of a kind. Art Gallery Fabrics designs modern fabrics that keep up with ongoing trends and at the same time it encourages customers to use new colors and patterns so they venture out of their usual comfort zone.

Art Gallery Fabrics believes strongly in the quality of the fabric which is transcended in their superior thread count and fine weave making premium cotton as soft and smooth you can get. You really feel the difference with just one touch!

Blog  *  Facebook *  Instagram  * Pinterest

AGF has created a collector’s box of fabrics like no other! Hand-picked for makers to use in a multitude of creative projects. An explosion of color and design made of unique groups of AGF’s signature quality cotton paired up with an original and collectible box made exclusively for them! Color Master boxes include a selection of 10 prints in two choices: FAT QUARTERS or HALF YARDS. CHECK YOUR LOCAL STORE FOR AVAILABILITY OR BUY IT ONLINE.

This week's My Signature Sampler giveaway will put this beautiful Quite Peachy box of 10 fat quarters into one lucky winners stash! 

Giveaway now closed. Congratulations to Michele!

Note: This giveaway is open to EVERYONE! If you're a "no reply" or anonymous commenter, please remember to include your email address in your comment--you can't win if I can't get a hold of you!

1. Simply leave a comment here under this post! (First comment entry).

2. Follow Art Gallery Fabrics on any of their social media platforms (see links above). Just let me know that you did by making a separate comment here to record that entry. (Separate comment-second entry). 

3. My followers get a third entry! If you follow me via subscribing to my posts, on Pinterest, and/or Instagram, just let me know by making a separate comment here to record that entry. (Separate comment-third entry).

4. Help spread the word!! I know that many of you already do, so I thought it would be nice to add that as another way to enter! Spread the word about the My Signature Sampler sew along on YOUR instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest by pinning any of my pretty images in this post, etc... (separate comment-fourth entry). 

That’s FOUR possible entries! Enter now through Monday, September 3rd! The winner will be picked at random around 4pm Eastern. I will post the name of the winner on this post once they've been notified and responded to my email.

Don't forget to enter into this same giveaway on Instagram by posting images of your sampler inspiration, sampler fabric pull, or blocks. Use the official #mysignaturesampler hashtag every time you post your My Signature Sampler makes (to a public account) and you're automatically entered into the weekly IG drawings as well! See my Instagram giveaway posts @sharonhollanddesigns for full details. 

Happy Labor Day weekend!

Sharon

Watercolor Musings

Watercolor Musings

The entire first half of this year I focused on meeting deadlines and fulfilling projects associated with being a textile/quilt designer. Don't get me wrong, I love everything I do but at some point it turns you into feeling more like a machine rather than a creative. To be honest I was getting a bit burned out but the carrot for me to power through it all was that the last half of the year I promised myself I would do less sewing and more painting!

Autumn Joy watercolor by Sharon Holland

I'm so enjoying my return to painting and my biggest surprise is how I've embrassed watercolors! Right now I'm infatuated with them and am painting at 2-3 times a week. I realized my paintings have exceeded my posting about them, thus the subject of this post. 

If you follow me on Instagram @sharonhollanddesigns you've seen these images and more since I post regularly because of the ease and timesaving convenience of posting to IG.

Cosmos in Vase by Sharon Holland

Two weeks ago I flew home to visit my parents and family. It was a wonderful trip with relaxing quality time spent with everyone. I'm actually not ready to get back to work and am holding onto the memories of that visit. 

The Cosmos in Vase watercolor painting was painted before I left as a gift for my mother's birthday. I'm extremely pleased with how that still life turned out. 

Dahlia by Sharon Holland

I packed my watercolor supplies and had the best time each day painting along side my father. He's an extremely talented man and the driver behind my becoming the artist I am today. Again, these are memories that fill my heart with such joy!

Blanket Flower Process by Sharon Holland

With Labor Day weekend fast approaching it herald's the bitter sweet end of summer. There will still be flowers to paint for at least another month but I now feel the pressure to capture as much of this year's blooms as possible. 

Blanket Flower by Sharon Holland

The lovely thing is that as I paint I'm also in the process of creating a new fabric collection for Art Gallery Fabrics for a 2019 spring collection. Many of these blooms I'm painting will be represented in those new prints. 

I realize there's much easier ways to create repeat pattern designs then how I make mine but it's not about that for me. I love the process, the thought behind the design, and the art that goes into each thing I create. Wether it's taking the original photograph as a study, drawing from real life, painting or putting down marks on paper first my designs are an expression of who I am as an artist. Creative decisions are made every step of the way. 

Sharon Holland Art

So, follow along here and on Instagram as I reconnect to being an artist while still being a quilt designer--it's all stitched together! 

My Signature Sampler Week #10

My Signature Sampler Week #10

Hi everyone! Here we are at week ten of our sew along and over halfway done. All the blocks being posted to our #MySignatureSampler hashtag pool on Instagram have been phenomenal! You're such a creative and inspiring group of makers, thank you for taking part in this sew along!

If you're just joining in on the fun, take a look at my first post for this sew along and pick up the quilt layout and color book page to start planning your sampler! The My Signature Sampler is based off block instructions from the Sewcial Bee Sampler (SBS), Community Sampler (CS), AGF Quilt Block Collection (AGF), and the blocks from the Quilter's Planner 2018 magazine (QP). If you have different favorite blocks and would rather include them in your quilt, please feel free to make this sampler with your own signature-style. 

If you need extra help with your patchwork or would like to learn how to control the direction of your prints in half-square triangle units and other piecing techniques, visit my Tutorials page for lots of great tutorials all in one place. Also, when making any Sewcial Bee or Community Sampler blocks you can access the original blog posts for each block and find additional tips and tutorials for piecing. If needed, just use the search bar at the top of the this page on the right and simply type in the block name.

Don't forget our blocks will be set on-point so if you have a fussy cut center, cut it on-point for best results. Note: I don't recommend cutting any other pieces of the blocks (other than a center square on-point for fussy cutting) because it will create bias edges along the outside of the block and increase chances of distortion. Keep any bias edges in the center of the block.

This week's block is called See Saw and is a block from the Art Gallery Fabrics Quit Block Collection. Be sure to click the Read More to expand the instructions text if you'd like to read the instructions along with the You Tube video. 

Because the AGF Quilt Block Collection See Saw block finishes at an 8" square block I had to add a frame onto it to bring it up to a finished 12" square for our sampler. To get it up to size, cut:

• Two 2-1/2" x 12-1/2" strips 
• Two 2-1/2" x 8-1/2" strips

My blocks are made using Art Gallery Fabric Pure Elements for the solids together with prints from the Signature fabric collection that I designed for Art Gallery Fabrics. For stock lists of online shops that carry my Signature and other collections I've designed for AGF, visit my Fabrics page or the Where to Buy page on the Art Gallery Fabrics site.

I've been adding my setting triangles to my finished blocks as I make them and have been sticking to original layout in the first week handouts. I'm using a combination of my Perennial print from Printemps Fusions and Untamed Beauty Daybreak from Signature as the background setting of my quilt but because this block will be in the middle of the quilt it only uses the Untamed Beauty print in the setting triangles. 

The setting triangles are made by cutting a 9-1/2'' square on the diagonal to make two setting triangles. Be mindful of print direction, if applicable. See Community Sampler Week #13 for block setting instructions. 

If you're interested in adding a chevron border to your sampler quilt, take a look at the week #6 blog post and pick up the border supplement PDF. I'll review the border option closer to the end of this sew along but just in case you wanted to sew or plan ahead, you have the information now.

GIVEAWAY

Every Friday when I reveal a new block to My Signature Sampler, I'll also be posting the weekly giveaway. This sew along is being sponsored by the most amazing companies and have generously donated incredible prizes to share with you. 

OUR SPONSORS

Art Gallery Fabrics | Hobbs Batting | The Quilter's Planner | Quilters Candy Box | Bloc_Loc | Dritz |  Omnigrid | Fat Quarter Shop

THIS WEEK'S GIVEAWAY SPONSOR IS: Omnigrid

Omnigrid® is a family of measuring and cutting products. When Omnigrid® tools are used together they provide quilters, sewists and DIY aficionados with unsurpassed accuracy and quality. A product concept born of the genius of Peggy and Randy Schafer, Omnigrid® products work behind the scenes allowing makers to flawlessly bring their creations to fruition. - See more at: Omnigrid!

Products  *  Projects and Patterns  *  Instagram  *  Pinterest 

For this week's My Signature Sampler Giveaway, Ominigrid is offering an incredible prize! Both the blog and Instagram winner will receive these wonderful Omnigrid sewing/quilting products shown below! This prize will be to limited to winners within the United States only (see entry rules).

THIS PRIZE PACK INCLUDES:  

The Tote Size FoldAway | 8-1/2" Fabric Scissors | Marking Ruler Trio

These fine Omnigrid products are the perfect size for travel and fit into a tote with ease, making them great for taking to workshops and sewing on the go! 

Thank you Omnigrid for this generous prize!

Giveaway now closed. Congratulations to Rosemary B!

Note: This giveaway is open to US address only for this prize. If you're a "no reply" or anonymous commenter, please remember to include your email address in your comment--you can't win if I can't get a hold of you!

1. Simply leave a comment here under this post! (First comment entry).

2. Follow Omnigrid on any of their social media platforms (see links above). Just let me know that you did by making a separate comment here to record that entry. (Separate comment-second entry). 

3. My followers get a third entry! If you follow me via subscribing to my posts, on Pinterest, and/or Instagram, just let me know by making a separate comment here to record that entry. (Separate comment-third entry).

4. Help spread the word!! I know that many of you already do, so I thought it would be nice to add that as another way to enter! Spread the word about the My Signature Sampler sew along on YOUR instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest by pinning any of my pretty images in this post, etc... (separate comment-fourth entry). 

That’s FOUR possible entries! Enter now through Monday, August 27th! The winner will be picked at random around 4pm Eastern. I will post the name of the winner on this post once they've been notified and responded to my email.

Don't forget to enter into this same giveaway on Instagram by posting images of your sampler inspiration, sampler fabric pull, or blocks. Use the official #mysignaturesampler hashtag every time you post your My Signature Sampler makes (to a public account) and you're automatically entered into the weekly IG drawings as well! See my Instagram giveaway posts @sharonhollanddesigns for full details. 

Happy sewing!

Sharon